A new species of snub-nosed monkey has been discovered in the Himalayas of north-eastern Burma. The four previously known species of snub-nosed monkeys, from China, Tibet and Vietnam, are all endangered or critically endangered and although the new species is not officially red-listed it meets the criteria for a critically endangered species.

Described by Thomas Geissmann of the Anthropological Institute of the University Zürich-Irchel with colleagues from Burma, Indonesia, and Thailand, R. strykeri has not yet been photographed in life. The image above is a reconstruction based on photographs of a related species and a specimen of the new one killed by a hunter. The new species is isolated from related ones by the Mekong and Salween rivers. It may be recognised by its dominant black colour interrupted by white fur only on ear tufts, a chin beard and the perineal area. In addition, it has a rather long tail, about 140% of the combined head and body length in adult males.

Interviews with hunters suggest the species is found only in 270sq km of the Maw River area of Kachin state. It lives in mountainous terrain in stands of cool or mixed temperate rain forests. It reportedly migrates from higher elevations to lower as winter temperatures and snow settle in. It is estimated that fewer than 350 individuals exist. Ironically, the only specimens known to science were secured from hunters who are the primary threat to the continued existence of the species.

Like other species of Rhinopithecus, R. strykeri is marked by wide, upturned, forward-facing nostrils flanked by upturned flaps of skin, creating the snub-nosed face associated with the genus. Rhinopithecus strykeri is a patronym honouring Jon Stryker, founder of the Arcus Foundation, that supports primate conservation and funded the species survey that resulted in the discovery of the species. This is the species' latest and official scientific name, but it is not its first. The Law Waw people know this species as myuk na tok te and the Lisu people know it as mey nwoah. Both common names aptly refer in local languages to monkeys with upturned noses.

Hunters say the monkey is most easily found on rainy days. It sits with its head facing downward between its knees to avoid rainwater entering its open nostrils. When this does happen, the monkey is reported to audibly sneeze, giving their locations away.

Quentin Wheeler is director of the International Institute for Species Exploration, Arizona State UniversityPhoto Reconstruction: Thomas Geissmann / Fauna & Flora International